Interventions targeting physical health problems in patients with concurrent mental illness and substance use

Abstract

Introduction

Physical comorbidities are common in patients with concurrent mental illness and substance use disorder. Interventional studies addressing health promotion for this group of patients are scarce.

Aims

To examine the physical health condition of a non-selected group of patients with substance use disorder comorbid to other psychiatric disorders. Further, to analyze for possible changes in their health condition during a two-year intervention study in relation to physical measures and substance use. Finally, to analyze for possible associations between changes in physical measures and in substance use.

Methods

The patients were enrolled in the project continuously from October 2013 through May 2015. Physical health measures were obtained at the enrolment date and continuously as part of daily clinical practice. Interventions consisted of individual consultations with a research nurse, group sessions and an opportunity to do physical exercise together with the research nurse. Interventions included health promotion activities, i.e. guidance on healthy food intake, smoking cessation and a physically active life.

Results

In total, 64 patients (mean age 32.7 years, SD 10.7) were included in the study. Patients were mostly diagnosed with psychotic disorders (11%), affective disorders (44%) or developmental disorders (34%). Baseline measures showed that 89% of the patients smoked cigarettes daily, 61% had used cannabis and 20% had used amphetamines within the past month. Further, few patients did moderate or vigorous physical exercise. Further results are in progress.

Conclusions

These interventions seem relevant and manageable in an outpatient setting.

Disclosure of interest

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.